Chris weakening as it steams into North Atlantic
After after 12 hours as a Category 2 storm, Hurricane Chris was downgraded Wednesday afternoon as it continues to move out to sea and away from North Carolina.
As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, Hurricane Chris had maximum sustained winds of 90 mph, making it a Category 1 storm. It was centered 729 east-northeast of Raleigh and was moving to the northeast at 25 mph.
Chris, which remained a tropical storm for days off the coast of North Carolina, first became a hurricane Tuesday afternoon.
The storm became more organized Tuesday with a well-defined eye appearing. According to WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner, the storm will accelerate to the northeast Wednesday before moving over colder water in the North Atlantic and weakening.
"Rip current danger is still high today, but by tomorrow, the storm will be dissipating in the North Atlantic and the danger will be easing up," said Gardner.
Still, Gov. Roy Cooper and other state officials cautioned vacationers and coastal residents to monitor the storm.
On Saturday afternoon, a man drowned after entering the water at Kill Devil Hills.
"We are saddened that rough waters have tragically claimed a life, and I urge people along our coast to be cautious, especially if they plan to be in and on the water," Cooper said in a statement. "While we do not expect major impacts from this storm, we will continue to watch it closely."
"There's certainly a high rip current danger today for folks swimming at our coast," Gardner said.
